Shoemaker&#39;s knife.



O. T. HUTCHISON.

SHOEMAKER'S KNIFE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1911.

1,018,908. Patented Feb. 27, 1912.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORVILLE T. I-IUTCHISON, OF DE LAND, FLORIDA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 PAUL BLE'CK, OF DE LAND, FLORIDA.

SHOEMAKERS KNIFE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2'7, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORVILLE T. I-Inrornson, a citizen of the United States, residing at De Land, in the county of Volusia and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'Shoemakers Knives, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to shoemakers knives and has for its object to providea knife of this class which will be particularly suitable for the repairing of the heels of shoes, and at the same time will be comparatively cheap to manufacture.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as it is more fully set forth.

It is well known that the ordinary types of knives used by shoemakers for heel repairing, have many disadvantages, in that they are not capable of doing the work as desirable as could be wished, and further the multiplicity of tools required to finish the heel properly. This invention avoids the use of several tools, because it combines a knife of suitable design, that will do the work desired on heels in a very eflicient manner and it'also has at its end, a pry, which being located on the tool, is always readily accessible, at the same time this pry is so shaped as to be particularly desirable for the work desired. The general conformation of this knife is such that it will readily do the work intended of it, as will be seen in the following description given of it.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example the embodiment of this inventon; Figure 1 represents a view in elevation of a knife embodying this invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1, and Figs. 3, 4: and 5 are secondary details along lines 33, 4.4: and 5-5, of Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

In the construction illustrated in the drawings, the handle of the knife is shown at 1, and is preferably of a somewhat ovalic shape, and has at its end a pry 2 which is beveled on one side 3 in order to give the desired edge. The other surface 4. of this pry is straight, in order to form a good fulcrum surface for the knife when it is being used.

Integrally formed on the handle is the knife portion 5 which has its lower knife edge portion 6 bent or curved in order to conform with the curve of the heel, and also to provide an edge which is more suitable for cutting leather. The central or middle portion of this edge base is somewhat convex in order that the knife will engage, and cut the leather in that portion first, when the knife is being used.- Opposite the middle portion of the edge of the knife is a hump 7 which is arranged to receive the blows from the hammer, when the same is being used to force the knife into the leather, and also to strengthen the knife at that portion of its blade. The lower edge of the handle and of the blade are so arranged as to curve into one another in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 1, in order that the knife can be used more conveniently.

In sharpening the knife blade 5, the shoemaker will preferably bevel it on one side in order to keep the other surface, ,whioh is designated by the reference character 8 in the drawings, as straight as possible, in order to give a straight clear out to the leather when the same is being used in the manner for that purpose, at the same time it affords a much easier way of sharpening the knife, which is a very desirable characteristic.

In operation the pry of the knife is placed between the layers in order to force them apart, and when it is done the new pieces are inserted thereon and nailed to the heel, and the knife blade is used to cut them to their desirable shape. Should it be desirable to use the blade port-ion 6 for removing the layers of the heel, the same is placed over the intervening space, and the same is hammered into it, and the shape of the blade is such as to act in a double wedging manner, first by reason of its wedge shaped section, and secondly because of its curved form. Usually the operator removes the first layer of the heel entirely, then if more of the layers are worn, instead of removing them entirely, he determines just how much of the worn portions of the layer to remove, places the blade of the knife across the heel so as to cut away this portion; holding the knife in one hand, by the handle, and taking the hammer in the other, he strikes on the knife at the hump portion often enough to force or drive it through the layer and thereby desirably cut. it off. If necessary the operator reverses the tool and uses the pry to separate the cut away portion and remove it, and repeats this action 011 all the layers that need removing. Some scrap pieces of leather are then picked up by the shoemaker, and placed in the space left by cut layers, and the edges of these pieces are brought in close proximity to the edges of the layer and the same are pressed up close to this layer and secured in position with nails, or the like. The curved portion of the knife is used to shape this layer so as to make a perfectly fitting joint where the layer and the additional portion come together. The knife being arranged to cut a curved edge in the layer, so that when the straight edge of the new piece is inserted, there will be a small space at the middle portion of these edges, between them. This permits the edges of the layers and pieces inserted to engage with each other at the outside first, and this space allows the operator to force the middle of the new piece inwardly, and cause the new pieces to fit firmly and closely together and make a neat 'joint on the outer walls of the heel. After the new piece is properly positioned, the same is cut with the knife so as to form the proper shape of the heel. The remaining layers of the heel that need repairing are repaired with pieces of leather in a similar way, until the heel is completely repaired.

By having the parts referred to in one knife, one is enabled to have a tool which is particularly desirable to shoemakers, because it saves time in the repairing of shoes, and also increases their accessibility, at the same time the general cost to manufacture the knife will be greatly reduced because the same can be easily formed, and requires a comparatively small amount of material.

Obviously, while only one construction is shown in the drawings, it is not desired to limit this. application-for a patent in any way, otherwise than necessitated by the prior art, as it is well known that many modifications in the construction of this invention may be made, without departing from the principles thereof.

Having thus described this invention it is claimed:

1. A shoemakers knife comprising in combination a handle, and a blade integrally formed with said handle, having its upper portion relatively thick and its lower portion provided with a knife-edge curved, and having a hump on the middle portion of the said upper edge.

2. A shoemakers knife comprising in combination a'handle, and a knife blade integrally formed with said handle having its upper portion humped for strengthening purposes and for receiving the blows of the hammers, said knife edge being formed by beveling one side toward the lower edge.

3. A shoemakers knife comprising a handle, and a knife blade integrally formed with said handle having its upper portion relatively thick and humped and its lower portion beveled on one side to give a sharp edge to the blade, said blade being hori- Zontally and vertically offset and having its end portion curved.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afliX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

O. T. HUTCHISON.

Witnesses D. B. TUREN, A. B. PRATHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

7 Washington, D. G. 

